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The bridge and the bypass edge closer to reality in election run-up

Saturday, 19 August 2023

A long-awaited bypass for Woodend is now firmly on the political agenda. So what to locals think of the idea? (First published August 18, 2023)

Voters of Woodend and Ashburton appeared upbeat about promises from National and Labour to upgrade their roads - and realistic about the need for tax increases to fund them.

The Government released its draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on land transport on Thursday, outlining spending priorities for the next decade and highlighting 14 'key strategic projects', which Prime Minister Chris Hipkins called “critical nation-building transport priorities”.

Just four of the 14 are projects are in the South Island - two from the top of the South, the Nelson (Rocks Road) shared path and the Richmond - Hope Bypass, both on State Highway 6; and two long standing Canterbury projects - the Christchurch Northern Link (Woodend Bypass) on State Highway 1 and a second Ashburton Bridge.

During Thursday’s announcement, the Transport Minister David Parker proposed raising the fuel tax by 12 cents a litre over the next three years, staggered in 2 cent and then 4 cent increments. Road user charges would also increase.

Woodend bypass ‘needed’

The Woodend Bypass - an extension of the Western Belfast Bypass - has been on the table for years, with an increasingly vocal campaign more recently including protests, petitions and public meetings.

Woodend resident Kaitlin Rayner said she was 'keen on the idea of the bypass', especially given the “madness” of peak hour traffic.

Rosanna Whitworth, owner of Empire Hair and Beauty Co in Woodend, says there’s definitely a need for roading improvements for the town as traffic had steadily increased, but she wasn’t sure how a bypass would work given the residential build up.
Rosanna Whitworth, owner of Empire Hair and Beauty Co in Woodend, says there’s definitely a need for roading improvements for the town as traffic had steadily increased, but she wasn’t sure how a bypass would work given the residential build up.

But she was less enthusiastic about the fuel tax as she was ”already paying enough as a student'.

Empire Hair and Beauty Co owner Rosanna Whitworth said Woodend definitely needed something, as gridlocked traffic had became the norm and she felt it was a “dangerous stretch of road”.

John Kerr says the Woodend Bypass is needed, as the “reams” of traffic can “split the town in two.”
John Kerr says the Woodend Bypass is needed, as the “reams” of traffic can “split the town in two.”

She was concerned at the proposed tax increases, given the general increase in the cost of living.

Waikuku resident John Kerr said there were “reams of traffic through Woodend” which “cut the town in half” and leaves people “taking their lives in their hands trying to cross the road or pull into a business.”

Robyn Lees from Clarkville, who visits her daughter in Woodend regularly, says news the bypass may finally go ahead is very welcome.
Robyn Lees from Clarkville, who visits her daughter in Woodend regularly, says news the bypass may finally go ahead is very welcome.
The Press spoke with people on the streets of Ashburton about the new bridge - and whether they're happy for a fuel hike to pay for it.

Clarkville resident Robyn Lees is a frequent visitor to Woodend.

She is pleased the bypass will eventuate, which she said will be “safer and better” but she had concerns for business owners.

“I’m realistic. They have to pay for things somehow, and I believe roading is massively important.”

Rebekkah Knewstubb, left, and Toni Orchard are keen to see a second bridge for Ashburton, and felt a user pays approach - via increases in fuel taxes and road user charges - was fair, and could save other costs down the track.
Rebekkah Knewstubb, left, and Toni Orchard are keen to see a second bridge for Ashburton, and felt a user pays approach - via increases in fuel taxes and road user charges - was fair, and could save other costs down the track.

New bridge for Ashburton ‘commonsense’

Residents of the Mid Canterbury town of Ashburton have pushed for a second bridge for years, hastened when widespread flooding in 2021 saw the South Island severed following the closure of the SH1 Ashburton River Hakatere Bridge. The bridge was again closed last month as a “precautionary” measure, following a build-up of flood debris around the its piers.

Gina Hubert, left, and Francis Tanner in Ashburton on Friday. Hubert said a second bridge was “commonsense.”
Gina Hubert, left, and Francis Tanner in Ashburton on Friday. Hubert said a second bridge was “commonsense.”

Rebekkah Knewstubb and Toni Orchard said it would be “amazing” to have a second bridge crossing, especially during emergencies when the South Island could otherwise be cut off.

“There is a need. And with so many trucks on the road, the [existing bridge] will just get more and more damaged as time goes on.”

But Orchard said the issue would not influence the way she voted in the upcoming elections.

Ben Stoddart agrees a second Ashburton bridge is necessary, especially given the layout of the town, which is split by the river.
Ben Stoddart agrees a second Ashburton bridge is necessary, especially given the layout of the town, which is split by the river.

“I don’t care who builds it, just build it. Stop talking about it and put the money where it’s needed.”

Both women thought it was fair for road users to wear a small increase in fuel tax to put towards the costs of roading projects.

“They're complaining the roads need to be repaired and when the government says this is what we're going to do to repair the roads, they're complaining about that too.“

It’s hoped traffic on the Ashburton River bridge will be eased by a second bridge, which now has backing from both major parties.
It’s hoped traffic on the Ashburton River bridge will be eased by a second bridge, which now has backing from both major parties.

Roading projects were “just one of those things that have to be done. If you want to use the roads, you're going to have to pay for it, unfortunately,” Knewstubb said.

The Ashburton bridge is a pinch point for the town with the potential to sever the South Island in half should it be closed.
The Ashburton bridge is a pinch point for the town with the potential to sever the South Island in half should it be closed.

“There really needs to be a new bridge - repairing the other one is not the answer,” Gina Hubert said. “It just makes sense.”

But Hubert also stopped short of saying the roading spend would influence her choice in the upcoming elections.

“There are a lot of other things to take into consideration.”

She said the fuel tax increase was “a catch-22”, because while the “money had to come from somewhere,” the flow on effect could push other prices up.

Ben Stoddart said the second bridge had become more urgent in recent years.

Ashburton mayor Neil Brown said he was very pleased with the bridge’s inclusion in the GPS, which means it will be entirely funded by central government.

“It’s been about 12 years we’ve been working on this - to get the location sorted, consulted on, the land’s been designated, we’ve been buying properties where the road will go - we’re all set to go.”

The second bridge will connect the South Island, benefiting the whole country, he said

The Chalmers Ave location has long been favoured by the council, Brown said.

National’s Transport for the Future policy also included a second bridge for Ashburton, but had no decision on a preferred location, and appeared to shift away from a previous commitment for a $1.5 billion four-lane motorway between Christchurch and Ashburton which now showed up on a list of “projects for further investigation ”.